Iran FM reiterates support for Iraq, Syria in face of terrorism

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif renewed his country’s support for Syria and Iraq in the face of terrorism, saying that the two countries’ fight against terrorist organizations is a source of pride for the region as a whole.

“We are always with the people of the region in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen and Afghanistan, and we will not accept that the foreigners to rule the region,” the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Zarif as saying Sunday in a televised interview on the sidelines of his visit to Baghdad.

The Iranian diplomat called on all peoples of the region to stand by Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, stressing that the security of the region is achieved by its peoples and countries.

Zarif  said an upcoming visit by President Hassan Rouhani to Iraq will be the beginning of a new chapter in Tehran-Baghdad relations.

“Mr. Rouhani is traveling to Iraq for the first time in his presidency, and we consider the trip a new start in our relations with Iraq,” Zarif told the Iraqi al-Forat satellite TV network in an interview aired on Saturday.

Zarif referred to the measures of cooperation that are scheduled to be bilaterally approved during the Iranian president’s visit to Iraq and called them “historic.”

The Iranian president will be starting his three-day visit to Iraq on Monday.